Musings from domesticity, creativity and motherhood.

04 December 2011

The 641 series

Do you ever hear about those people for whom receiving something of a household persuasion under the Christmas Tree would be grounds for divorce? I'm not one of them. Kitchen gadgetry? Bring it on. A new recipe book? Itching to test it out.

In fact, I derive as much pleasure outside of the kitchen from my cookbook collection (in all its colour coded glory). I have a special bookcase devoted to my recipe books. Some are old workhorses - an original Delia Smith's Cookery Course in three volumes - still my go to choice for the measurements for yorkshire puddings or custard. I own multiple titles from my favourite cookery writers - Nigel and Nigella - national treasures both, for their ways with the words they write as much as for the recipes they suggest.

There's not physical space for too many more. But I cannot help acquiring them. So it should be no surprise at all that when the nice folk at WHSmith asoked if they could send over a book for me to take a look at, that I found myself happy to oblige. And they chose for me a great volume - River Cottage everyday.

I'm showing you the back cover, not as much for the beetroot salad, as much as for those little line drawings added onto the plate. The whole book is full of them - like doodles in the margin. Which appeals to me hugely, as I am always scribbling in my cookbooks. Jotting down tweaks to a recipe, or the date I first tried it, or who I've fed it to if it is more of a special occasion dish. Making suggestions to myself for a good accompaniment the next time I cook it.

This, for me, is why an internet search for a recipe will never completely replace owning a volume and why my bookshelves will continue to groan under the weight of yet another book full of things which have been sampled, or ones I long to try. Which in the case of River Cottage everyday includes Tupperware Mexican chorizo, Honey Wholemeal cake and Egg tartare. Not all at the same sitting, I hasten to add.

Parcels shaped like books are always a welcome addition under the tree. Luckily for me, hubby views them as the gift which gives twice - the pleasure of reading for me and the obvious benefits to them as resident taste testers. But Santa, a bookshelf extension wouldn't go amiss either.

What is your cookbook crush of the moment? Just in case the big red guy needs a little steer.

Comments

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My family never buy me cookbooks because if there's a cookbook I want then I've already bought it. I have all the River Cottage books, all of Nigel's and most of Nigella's and loads more on my dedicated cookbook shelf but my absolute favourite cookbook writer is the under-appreciated Diana Henry. Her latest book Food From Plenty is my favourite and most useful book ever.

Oh I'm right with you there - the cookbook collection is right up there with the yarn and fabric stashes. Unfortunately my husband doesn't really get it and has imposed a cookbook ban - which I've kind of ignored on the sly - so I tell everybody who might conceivably buy me a present that cookbooks are the thing! It's hard to chose a favourite - I love them all - but I guess I always come back to Delia's Cookery Course which I was given for my 18th birthday almost 30 years ago.

Hugh's Tupperware chorizo meatballs are truly fantastic. So simple, so delicious, they really never fail.
I'm with you re the three vol Delia, Nigel and Nigella and would like to add Simon to the list. Hopkinson, that is. I'll bet he features on your shelf, too?

The doodles are my favourite bit of River Cottage Everyday too! My most-used cookbook at the moment seems to be The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook, not sure that's healthy really! Seem to be foolproof cake recipes though. They have a newer book out too but I haven't looked at it yet.
Your colour coded bookshelf is lovely by the way.

My shelves are groaning with cookbooks, but as they're all vegetarian and most are from these shores, I don't know how useful a recommendation would be. I'm curious about that River Cottage veg one, however...

I love the way you have colour coded your cookbooks. I too have lots of cookbooks but at the moment I am reading The Pudding that Took a thousand cooks. You will see a post about it on my blog. www.Suth2.wordpress.com I am really enjoying the historical look at cooks and cooking. In the second chapter entitled Distributing Goodness, the author talks about the books, Like Water for Hot Chocolate, Heartburn, Little House on the Prairie to name just a few and how they either talk about food or are inextricably linked to cooks and cooking. I am sure I am going to enjoy the whole book.

What lovely colours... maybe I need to reorganise my cookery bookshelf? (currently dominated by Jamie & Nigella, and alphabetised - oh dear.) I adore reading cookbooks. I've read Nigella's How to Eat cover-to-cover twice, which might be a little obsessive! A beautiful book to recommend - which is lovely to read for the writing, pictures and personal history, even if you never cook from it - is 'Falling Cloudberries' by Tessa Kiros. Even the title is mouthwatering!

Aahhh ... 'Apples for Jam' by Tessa Kiros - heavenly ..... The Leon cookbooks (make you think you are being virtuous!), most of Nigella and Nigel,.... Sarah Raven (if only for the gorgeous covers ... and the Christmas book is TRULY inspirational (even if I still havn't made my Christmas cake ......). I could go on, and on, and on, and on ........

I feel the same way about cookbooks! I have a whole bookshelf devoted to them as well, and after having just celebrated Christmas and my birthday, I am now officially out of room.
Nigella Express is my constant go-to, because it is so good, so easy, so fast, and it always turns out. In fact, I've got something from that book on the menu for tonight. I love pretty much any cookbook, but it needs to have pictures. I have a few without, but in general I enjoy a cookbook more if it has a photo for every recipe. :)